April 4, 2017 (FSM Embassy,
Beijing)
President Peter M. Christian of the Federated States of Micronesia and
President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China in a first
meeting of the two leaders, have agreed and reached consensus for
greater cooperation.To
demonstrate each other’s value, both sides have agreed to further
strengthen its partnership efforts.In their meeting, President Christian highlighted that both FSM
and China have enjoyed a non-interrupted diplomatic relationship for 28
years, surpassing the test of time, based on the strong belief in, and
respect for, each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.President Christian acknowledged that like past FSM Presidents
who have assured China of FSM’s recognition and respect for the One
China Policy, the Christian administration will also respect and adhere
to the policy.

President Christian thanked China for all the assistance it has
provided towards the economic and social development of the FSM and
acknowledged with appreciation the global issues that that China has
taken a leadership role in.
President Christian looks toward China’s leadership and continued
efforts on climate change.
On Globalization and free trade, President Christian stated that FSM
subscribes to globalization and free trade with certain apprehension,
but found comfort in its bilateral relationship with China as well as
the assurances that resonated out of the Boao Forum which President
Christian attended, that no one, big or small, will be left behind.President Christian informed President Xi that with that
assurance, the FSM was prepared to travel on China’s belt and road
scheme; not only to see how it can benefit from it, but also to see how
it can contribute to it.

Since the establishment of the formalized commission on economic
trade cooperation with the FSM in 2014, both sides have enhanced
bilateral relations based on mutual respect and common development.The bilateral relationship between FSM and China will continue to
be strengthened for a win-win scenario between the two countries.President Xi welcomes cooperation in areas such as tourism,
agriculture, fisheries, and infrastructure.President Xi welcomed the FSM to participate in the Belt and Road
scheme.For people to
people cooperation, President Xi wishes to work with the FSM to expand
exchanges and cooperation at the local level to promote more programs in
culture, education, and youth programs to encourage friendship and
understanding between the two peoples.

On global issues, China
is willing to enhance coordination with the FSM on the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, climate change, and other major issues to
safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

The
bilateral meeting between President Peter M. Christian and President Xi
Jinping concluded with a signing ceremony of an economic and technical
agreement providing the FSM with 100 million RMB, as well as the
forgiveness of an interest free loan that FSM had taken in 1993 for the
construction of a multi-purpose gymnasium located at the College of
Micronesia national campus, officially named the FSM-China Friendship
Sports Center.President
Christian and President Xi witnessed the signing ceremony between
Foreign Secretary Lorin S. Robert and Vice Minister of Commerce Fu
Ziying.

President’s Christian’s visit began in Hong Kong on March 18, 2017,
where he met with the FSM Honorary Consul who is also the Chairman of
Tan Holdings, Dr. Tan Siu Lin.In their meeting, President Christian expressed his appreciation
for the partnership that exists between the two sides.President Christian acknowledged with appreciation the Tan
family’s continued support to the Micronesian region as evident through
investments in the FSM.Dr.
Tan Siu Lin wishes to continue to support economic and social
development in the FSM.In
addition to investments that already exist, Dr. Tan Siu Lin informed
President Christian of his intention to donate a classroom building to
the FSM College of Micronesia and also continue his scholarship program
for FSM students to study at Quanzhou Normal University in Fujian
province.The two sides
will continue to work together to realize other proposed projects that
the two sides deem beneficial such as continued developments in the
tourism industry.

President Christian entered mainland China on
March 19, 2017 via Shenzhen, China’s first special economic Zone since
1980.In Shenzhen,
President Christian carried out inspection visits and meetings with
Chinese owned companies. President
Christian met with the executives of Telecommunication Company ZTE, and
the Liancheng fisheries company.Both meetings were positive and have great potential to yield
valuable projects that will improve the quality of services and create
more jobs and revenue for the FSM.Such examples include possible E-Government by ZTE, and the
expansion of transshipment facilities and services by Liancheng.

In a meeting with Guangdong Province Party Secretary Hu
Chunhua in Shenzhen, both sides reached consensus to further accelerate
cooperation between FSM and Guangdong Province in areas such as
fisheries, agriculture, tourism, education, culture, and medical
exchanges.From the
positive meeting between the two leaders in Shenzhen, an announcement
that an FSM representative office will be set up in Shenzhen in the near
future.

On March 21, 2017 President Christian and his delegation
traveled to China’s northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang Province.The President was welcomed to the province by Party Secretary
Wang Xiankui.In Harbin,
President Christian inspected the Y12E aircraft for the FSM, which in
coordination with the FSM Department of TC&I, was designed and built by
AVIC HAIG. The aircraft will be delivered to the FSM this summer.During the meeting with AVIC HAIG, both sides acknowledged the
close cooperation that the Y12 project created.Both sides acknowledged that the Y12 is more than a plane, but a
bridge to connect the friendly relationship that exists between FSM and
China.A Memorandum of
Understanding was signed by Secretary Lukner Weilbacher of the
Department of Transportation, Communications and Infrastructure
witnessed by President Christian and delegation for further cooperation
between FSM and AVIC.

During President Christian’s meeting with Party Secretary Wang,
the two sides agreed to further enhance relations with Heilongjiang
Province through a sister city relationship arrangement and tourism
promotion.A delegation
from Heilongjiang province will be assembled to visit the FSM this year.

The next stop on March 23, 2017, President Christian
visited Hainan Island, a
tropical island
province of China.
President Christian’s Hainan stop was to participate in the Boao Forum
Conference and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road: Islands
Economic Cooperation Forum.
President Christian gave two key note speeches at those separate Forums
related to globalization and trade.President Christian conveyed in both forums that the FSM
subscribes to globalization and free trade and is prepared to cooperate
with China and other countries in the Asia-Pacific for stable and
friendly trade relations.

In Hainan, President Christian met with China’s Vice Premier Zhang
Gaoli as well as Hainan Party Secretary, Mr. Luo Baoming.The meetings between the leaders further highlighted the
successful visit by President Christian to China.In those separate meetings, the two sides reiterated the value
that both sides attach to the FSM-China relations and their desires to
further enhance the relationship. As
islands, Hainan, and FSM both attach importance towards agriculture and
tourism.Both sides agree
to further accelerate cooperation in those fields.Noting the proximity between Hainan and the FSM, hopes for a more
direct route and cooperation in air services through Hainan’s flagship
air carrier were also mentioned.Like the relationship that was forged in Heiliongjiang, a sister
city relationship was also born in Hainan signed by Yap State Governor
Tony Ganningyan and witnessed by President Christian, Secretary Lorin S.
Robert, Iso Nahnken of Madoleniwm John Adolph, and FSM Ambassador to
China Carlson D. Apis.From
the Chinese side, Party Secretary Luo Baoming and the Hainan Leadership
stood shoulder to shoulder to witness the birth of a new relationship
between Yap State, FSM, and Hainan.Through the new sister province –state relationship, Hainan made
a commitment of 50 scholarships to be used by FSM within the next 5
years (10 scholarships/year) for FSM students to study in Hainan.A donation of office equipment were also provided to the FSM
along with the range of invitations that were extended for youth
exchanges, and technical transfer exchanges.

The official visit
by President Christian has strengthened the political foundation of the
FSM-China relationship.The
meeting between President Christian and President Xi Jinping assured
continued cooperation that would be mutually beneficial to both sides.